HCSB.PNG) |
| Click to Enlarge |
Slavery has never been a word that people warmed up to and embraced. From our point of view as liberty-loving Americans, we love our independence and have nothing but utter disdain for those who make their living trafficking in any form of slavery. Our American ideals of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness cannot be realized as a slave. Much blood had been shed not only on our own soil but in foreign lands in opposing tyranny that would strip every man, woman, and child of their God-given right of freedom.
When the Romans ruled the world, the population estimates of slaves in the empire range from approximately 60 to 96 million. Roman law allowed a master of slaves to crucify any of his slaves for any reason. Slaves were subject to brutality without any legal rights, no representation, and no hope. They were considered as a non-citizen and generally treated like sheep or cattle. They were, for all intensive purposes, at rock bottom of the socioeconomic ladder: treated like livestock and owned nothing. The treatment of slaves actually depended entirely upon his or her master’s attitude and personality. Some were kind and caring others were just the opposite, cruel and indifferent. Essentially, the only future for a slave was the will of the master; everything else was irrelevant. Such was slavery within the empire of Rome.
Who would have ever in their wildest imagination thought of associating the Greek word doulos (δοῦλος, G1401, literally a slave) to best describe our personal relationship with Jesus Christ in an empire saturated with slaves! Paul did under the guidance of the Holy Spirit in spite of running the risk of political incorrectness, insensitivity, dogmatism, or radicalism; I really don't think Paul cared, for this was God breathed stuff (2 Tim 3:16)!
Everyone could identify and understand the meaning of doulos immediately. This is why the Holy Spirit of God used Paul to select this very word to express the relationship we have with God, even though it carried some ugly connotations in the minds of many, if not all. Obviously, God’s slavery was/is not like the cruel system of slavery found in Egypt, Greece, Rome, and later nations.
Everyone could identify and understand the meaning of doulos immediately. This is why the Holy Spirit of God used Paul to select this very word to express the relationship we have with God, even though it carried some ugly connotations in the minds of many, if not all. Obviously, God’s slavery was/is not like the cruel system of slavery found in Egypt, Greece, Rome, and later nations.
Often Paul referred to himself as a doulos (literally, a slave) of Christ (Rom 1:1, HCSB; Php 1:1, HCSB). Translations like KJV or NKJV use a less provocative and a more politically acceptable translation of doulos as servant, KJV or bondservant, NKJV. James, Jesus’ half-brother, referred to himself as a doulos (slave) (Jas 1:1, HCSB), and so did Peter (2 Pet 1:1, HCSB) and Jude (Jude 1:1, HCSB). The Holman Christian Standard Bible in these instances does justice to preserve the precise meaning of our personal relationship with Christ by translating the Greek word doulos by the English word slave. Though slaves and servants “serve,” each conjures a different nuance. Servants are usually paid; slaves are not. Servants can walk off the job; slaves cannot, and so forth.
The best definition of our slavery is that we are owned. Paul commanded the Corinthian believers to glorify God in their bodies because they have been bought with a price (1 Cor 6:19-20, emphasis mine). I also like the definition given to me by my New Testament professor long time ago, “A slave is one whose will is lost in the will of the Master,” Dr. Bruce Lackey). Some will not agree with the Holy Spirit’s choice of words and the literal translation of that choice, but anything other than interpreting doulos by the English word slave is rounding off the edges of clarity and preciseness of a word that best describes our personal relationship with Jesus Christ. One may counter by quoting Gal 3:28,
“There is neither Jew nor Greek [Gentile], there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
But this verse has more to do with believers being one in Christ; there are no distinctions marked by any superiorities or privileges. Though we are sons and joint-heirs with Christ, we are and always will be a redeemed people, once a slave to sin now a slave to God (cf. Mt 25:23, HCSB; Rev 19:5; 22:3 "servants" = doulos). Jesus will always be our Savior for all eternity. Though we own nothing this side of eternity, yet we own all on the other side!
What does this all mean to us? There is not one molecule in our life that that we can call our own that does not belong to our Master (Job 41:11b); we cannot even claim our family! We came into this world naked; we will leave the same way (Job 1:21). Our will is to be lost in the will of our Master 24/7 voluntarily while on earth; once in glory it's a moot point. For God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven can only be accomplished by those who recognize their slavery to God. Such a slave will respond immediately and completely to the will of the Master because the will of God and the will of the slave are one. Welcome to Slavery 101: our personal relationship with God.
This is such a rich metaphor, and we have barely scratched the surface. Unlike human masters, God will not have us crucified on the cross when we are disobedient or run away! Running from an omnipresent God is as fruitless as Jonah’s attempt. To determine if we might be a runaway slave (in denial) is to ask yourself a series of probing questions.
How much time do I spend in reading and studying to know Him?
How much time do I spend conversing with Him?
Do I resist the will of God?
Am I enjoying some sinful behavior I know God forbids?
Do I attend church with an attitude of being served rather than serving with my time, talents, and treasury?
Do I lack inner peace?
Is my soul troubled in the quiet times?
Am I getting further away with each passing day?
One of the paradoxes of Scripture is that we are never truly free to serve the Lord until we come to terms with our slavery. Within that word as it relates to God are found love, surrender, and service. Embracing our slavery in God is like releasing a white dove from its cage. The cage is our resistance; slavery in Christ is the very freedom we seek! If the Son makes you free [from the slavery of sin and all the stuff that comes with it], you shall be free indeed” (Jn 8:36).
Trading the slavery of sin in for the slavery of Christ is where true freedom is realized. A man cannot serve two masters; we all know this to be true. Sin can strip us of the very things we hold most dear. Christ secured our spiritual freedom on the cross, and by faith in His great sacrifice our freedom from the penalty of sin is secured eternally. But He didn’t die to give us a freedom to run away from Him but to run for Him the race of faith for His glory and His honor.
The most important question we should ask ourselves is – whose slave am I – sin or Christ? For the unbeliever it is one or the other; for the believer it is one or the other. It is only in Christ our life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are truly found. It's time to come home to true freedom as a slave of God if you are on the lam. <><
The most important question we should ask ourselves is – whose slave am I – sin or Christ? For the unbeliever it is one or the other; for the believer it is one or the other. It is only in Christ our life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are truly found. It's time to come home to true freedom as a slave of God if you are on the lam. <><
O, the fetters of faith
That bind my soul to thee.
What gain I count but lost
To find my soul set free.
'Twas in this shackled state
My freedom thus was found.
To live for Christ my Lord
Forever heaven bound.
--Michael Alderman
+Camel+Silhouette+Camel+CLR+Bkgrd+right+10%25.png)
